How do muscle imbalances increase the risk of injury?
Muscle imbalances develop in climbers as they work on strengthening the pulling muscles while neglecting their opposing muscle groups. Consider the muscles that flex your fingers when gripping a ledge. They may become extremely strong during the course of a climbing season, whereas their antagonists, the flexor muscles that lie on the top of your forearm, remain relatively weak. Powerful contractions of the flexor muscles can stress the tendons in the extensor muscles resulting in tendonitis in the elbow. Similarly, tendonitis in the elbow may occur with an imbalance between the triceps and biceps. Joint stability is also affected by imbalances, particularly the shoulder. Doing exercises such as push ups and dips will help even out imbalances in climbers who typically have over developed pulling muscles. Q: What are the high risk movements or body positions? High risk movements or body positions set the stage for injury by concentrating stress on particular part, or placing joints in u
